Tarique had a hand in Bangladesh’s London mission attack: AL

The Awami League has accused Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman of the last week’s storming by the BNP protesters of the Bangladesh High Commission in London.

General Secretary Obaidul Quader raised the allegation at a programme in Cox’s Bazar on Monday, five days after Khaleda’s supporters vandalised furniture in the High Commission and smashed a portrait of founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman ahead of the verdict in a graft case against the BNP chairperson.

Tarique, the senior vice-chairman of the BNP, is standing in as party chief now from London after Khaleda was sentenced to five years in jail for graft.

Tarique Rahman with Khaleda Zia. File Photo

Tarique was also sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined Tk 2 million in the same case. He had been sentenced to seven years in prison earlier in a money laundering case.

He has been in London since he went there for treatment after being released on bail during the 2007-08 caretaker government.

Quader said they had information from sources that Tarique had ‘ordered’ the attack on the High Commission, vandalism, and dishonouring of Bangabandhu’s portrait.

“He (Tarique) has continued making conspiracies in London,” he alleged.

The Awami League leader also said the ‘unprecedented’ attack on a mission abroad ‘demanding the freedom of a convict has smeared’ Bangladesh’s image.

Quader, who is also the road transport and bridges minister, said the authorities had already informed the Interpol about the attack and asked for action against those involved in it.

Some 100 party supporters carrying banners and placards gathered at the high commission premises before the attack.

The process to take legal action against those involved in the attack and to bring back Tarique was under way, he added.

He reiterated his claim that the BNP has changed its constitution in ‘haste’ to make Tarique the acting chief even though he is convicted of graft and money laundering.

Cox’s Bazar MPs from the Awami League Abdur Rahman Badi, Asheq Ullah Rafiq and Shaimum Sarwar Kamal were also present.